Musical chart.



J. W. SGROGGS.

MUSICAL CHART.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.28, 1912.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

WITNESS \COLUMBIA PLAHOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n c.

J. W. SCROGGS.

MUSICAL CHART.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 28, 1912.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fI KITNESSES J. W. SGROGGS.

MUSICAL CHART.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1912.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHBET 3.

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WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. SGROGGS, OF KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA.

MUSICAL CHART.

Application filed December 28, 1912.

T0 (LZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr XV. Sonocos, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kingfisher, in the county ofKingfisher and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Musical Charts, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in musiccharts designed particularly for use in aiding the student of music inself-instruction, as well as an aid to the teacher in imparting theunderlying principles and precepts that constitute the foundation of anunderstanding of harmony and the structure of scales, and the inventionhas for its primary object a simple and efficient device of thischaracter which will be a material aid both to teachers and scholars instudying harmony and in learning to play the piano or organ.

The invention has for a further object a simple music chart displayingthereon columns corresponding in relation to each other with a certainportion of the middle register of the keys of a piano, the black keysbeing graphically distinguished from the white, and means whereby,through the instrumentality of a slide and other correlated elementsthere may be displayed the required characters to indicate the notes ofany desired scale.

A further object of the invention is a chart of this character embodyinga slide so arranged that when in a position to indicate and expose thecharacters representing the keys of the scale of C natural it will coverspaces at which the intervening flats and sharps appear, and which willautomatically expose such spaces, when moved to different predeterminedpositions so as to bring to view, in proper sequence, the said sharpsand flats of the different scales, means being provided, including anautomatically reciprocating bar, whereby when the slide is shifted toany position where its key note is in alinement with one of a series ofkey signatures arranged in order at the bottom of the columns, all ofthe notes of the scale for which that key signature stands will bebrought to view, together with the exact name of each note.

A still further object of the invent-ion is a music chart in which theslide contains in addition to the features hereinbefore enumer-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914. Serial No. 739,063.

ated a series of characters of contrasting colors representing theprimary chords,

another series representing the secondary chords, while between thesetwo series are displayed the syllables used in solmization to denote thedegrees of the chromatic scale, there being below said syllables a rowof numerals indicating the major scale and above said syllables thenumeral names of the relative minor scale.

The invention also has for its object, in a device of this kind, a slideprovided with fingers normally covering certain spaces in which appearcharacters indicating the different tones of the chromatic scale, sundryof said fingers being movable at will whereby there will be exposed thespaces showing the keys of the harmonic or melodic minor scales relativeto the corresponding major scale, means being provided whereby, withoutshifting theslide, the sixth of the natural minor scale may be changedfrom a major to a minor sixth, and the seventh of the natural minorscale from major to minor seventh, as desired. And the invention alsoaims to generally improve devices of this class, so as to render themmore useful and universally applicable.

With these and other objects in View, as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,arrangements and combinations of parts that I shall hereinafter fullydescribe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aface view of my improved musical chart; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalview thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of some of thedetails hereinafter specifically referred to; Fig. 4: is a detail faceview of a reciprocating bar employed and Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 arefragmentary views to illustrate different movements of the parts.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings,by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the body of myimproved music chart, the same being composed of a wood or any othersuitable backing faced with linen or paper on which the differentindicating characters are displayed. The face of the chart consists of agreat staff of any predetermined compass transected by vertical columns11, each of which represents a semitone and on the lower edge of whichappear representations of the black keys of a piano, as indicated at 12.lVithin these columnar spaces 11 are displayed large .open or wholenotes 18 representing the normal degrees of the staff or the white keysof a piano, and small black or quarter notes 14 representing the blackkeys of a piano or the tones intermediate the tones represented by theopen notes, as will be readily understood. Below the staff and collinearor in vertical alinement with sundry of the vertical columns 11 are thethirteen signatures of the keys, designated 15 as a whole. Above thestaff the face of the chart contains, as indicated at 16, the letternames by which the degrees of the staff are designated together with theintermediate tones, comprising the chromatic scale, the words Chromaticscale being preferably displayed at the left of this row of letternames, as shown. The letter names of the normal degrees of the staffare, manifestly, shown in the columnar spaces, in which thecorresponding open notes appear, and are printed directly on the face ofthe chart, but the letter names of the intermediate tones are printed onthe face of a bar 17 mounted for a back and forth or reciproeatingmovement in a groove 18 formed in the body 10 immediately back of thefacing thereof, and are arranged to show through openings 19 formed insaid facing in the spaces between those in which the letter names of thenormal degrees of the staff are displayed. This bar 17, with itsconnections and their function will be hereinafter more specificallydescribe-d. Some of these letter names 16 are at all times concealed bvfingers 20 which project from one edge of a slide 21 mounted for lateralmovement in a groove 22 formed in the body 10, any means being provided,within the purview of my invention, for shifting said slide. In thepresent instance, for this purpose, I have shown the slide as providedon one edg with a rack 23 enga ed bv a pinion carried by a shaft orspindle 25 journaled in the body 10, a finger piece or knob 26 beingsecured to the forwardly projecting end of said sp ndle, as clearlyillustrated in the drawings. Manifestly, the rack is long enough topermit the slide to be moved, by and upon the turning of the knob 26,through at least the semitones of the thirteen signatures 1.5 at thebottom of the chart. The fingers 20 of the slide 21 are so spaced, aswill at once be apparent by reference to the drawings, that they coverat all times part of the chromatic scale, and

they are so arranged, as will now be described, that they will revealbetween them only the notes of a desired scale.

The bar 17, before mentioned, and on the face of which are displayed theletter names of the intermediate tones, z. sharps and flats injuxtaposition to each other, is connected to one arm of a bell-cranklever 27 fulcrumed at its elbow, as at 28, in the grooved face of thebody 10, the other arm of said bell-crank carrying a roller 29 whichworks in an undulatory cam groove or track 30 formed in the rear side ofthe slide 21. Consequently, as will be readily understood, when theslide 21 is shifted, a reciprocating or vibratory movement will beimparted to the bar 17, whereby as the fingers 2O expose those spaces inthe vertical columns where the openings 19 occur, the proper letternames or characters, sharps or flats, will show through said openings tocomplete the required keys or tones of the desired scale.

WVhile the majority of the fingers 20 are fixed relative to the slide21, some of them (two pairs in the present embodiment of the invention)are movable independently of any movement of the slide itself, wherebythe sixth or seventh of any minor scale may be changed from major sixthor major seventh to minor sixth or minor seventh, as desired. Toaccomplish this result, one pair of these independently movablefingers-designated 20 for the purpose of distinction, is connected to astrip 31 movable in the direction of its length in the slide 21, and theother pair, designated 20 is connected to a corresponding strip 31 alsomovable in the direction of its length in the said slide. Each of thesestrips is connected to a crank 32, said cranks being disposed on therear side of the slide 21 and connected to separate spindles 33journaled in said slide, finger pieces or knobs 34 being connected tothe forwardly projecting ends of said spindles whereby the strips may beconveniently manipulated. It will thus be understood that when the slidehad been shifted to the desired point, a further adjustment in therelative positions of the fingers may be effected, so as to change thenatural minor scale to the harmonic or melodic minor scale. The saidnatural minor scale is indicated, as regards its relative major, by arow of figures 35 displayed near the upper edge of the slide 21; thecorresponding major scale is indicated by a row of figures 36 displayedon the slide near the lower edge thereof, while between said two rows offigures the syllable names of the degrees of the chromatic scale areshown. Below said syllable names appear color spots, as at 87,representing the primary chords,blue, the notes of the tonic chord;yellow, the sub-dominant; and red, the

dominant. Above said syllable names appear color spots-38 representingthe secondary chords,-blue, the sub-mediant; yellow, the super-tonic;and red, the mediant. The square spots 39 represent the heptachords.

At the left-hand and right-hand lower corners of the chart may appearany instructive signs, such as the values of the difi'erent notes, thedifierent conventional tempos, and expression marks.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the operation of my improved music chart will be apparent. Inorder that the operation may be fully understood, I will give thefollowing examples of its use: For instance let it be supposed that itis desired to study the scale of one fiat. To do this, the student willfirst find that signature at the bottom of the chart and move the slideuntil the key note at the middle of the slide is in its column. Theletter names of the notes used in that scale then appear between thefingers 20, as for example F G A B flat, 0 D E F and so on. By comparingthe intervals of the major scale as shown by the larger, figures onlywith the notes of the staff the reasons for using the one fiat appear atonce; All of the primary and secondary chords of the scale of F, or oneflat, are also shown. To study the scale of three flats, that signatureis found at the bottom of the chart, and the slide 21 is moved until thekey note is in its column. The letter names of the notes used in thatscale then appear between the fingers 20, namely E flat, F, G, A fiat; Bflat, G and D. To

study the scale of four sharps, for example,

the slide 21 should be moved to the column of four sharps, or scale ofE. The reciproeating device will change E flat to D sharp, and A flat toG sharp, and C sharp and F sharp also appear. In this way all of thescales from G flat below to F sharp above middle C may be shown.

It is to be particularly noted that in the use of my device the flatsand sharps are not shown when the parts are adjusted to study any scale,and hence the student is not called upon to determine from his or herknowledge of music which is to be used. For example, with the use of myinvention, when the parts are adjusted to study the scale of F only Bflat is shown, while in the scale of B the same note is marked A sharp.Thus the operation is simplified, and the study of harmony and thestructure of scales greatly facilitated.

As best indicated in Fig. 8, the strip which regulates the seventh ofthe minor scale is provided with a stop 40, which works in a notch orrecess 41 in the other slide or strip, so that when the first-namedstrip moves to the right the second-named moves to the left each willcarry the other with it. The reason for this is that the major sixth isnever used in any scale with the minor seventh. Consequently theperformer is enabled to change from the natural to the melodic minor byturning on'one knob,the seventh to change from the melodic to thenatural minor by turning the other knob. Since the major sixth is neverused without the major seventh the former by this construction cannot bemade without the latter.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate what I believe to be thepreferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be madein the construction, arrangement and proportions of the chart withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A music chart, comprising a body displaying thereon letter namesdesignating the whole and intermediate tones of the chromatic scale, aslide movably mounted on the body and provided with fingers arranged inpredetermined order to cover and conceal certain of said letter namesand to expose others, and means operatable by and upon the movement ofsaid slide upon the body for automatically bringing to view other letternames to fill in all of the intermediate tones necessary to complete thetones of any desired scale.

2. A music chart, including a. body displaying thereon letter namesarranged in predetermined order to designate the whole and intermediatetones of the chromatic scale, some of said letter names being fixed onthe face of the body in spaced relation to each other and the face ofthe body being formed with openings in the intervening spaces betweensaid fixed letter names, the letter names designating the intermediatetones of the scale, flats or sharps, being movable into and out ofregistry with said openings, a slide mounted on the body and providedwith fingers extending over and arranged to conceal sundry of saidletter names and to expose others, and means operable by and upon themovement of the slide for automatically bringing into view the letternames of the intermediate tones of the different scales, according tothe position in which the slide is moved.

3. A music chart, including a body displaying on its face letter namesdesignating the whole and intermediate tones of the chromatic scale anddisplaying vertical columns at the lower ends of sundry of which aredisplayed the signatures of the different keys or scales, a slidemovable on the body portion and provided intermediate of its ends with adesignating character or key note, said slide being provided with aplurality of fingers extending over and ar ranged to conceal sundry ofsaid letter names and to expose others, a bar slidingly mounted on thebody in alinement with the row of letter names designating the wholetones of the chromatic scale, the intermediate tones of said scale beingdesignated by letter names which are carried by said bar, the face ofthe body being formed with openings through which said letter names ofthe intermediate tones are designed to be seen, and means whereby saidbar will be automatically shifted back and forth up on the movement ofthe slide to bring into view at said openings the intermediate tones,sharps or flats, of any scale with which the key note of the slide isbrought into collinear relation.

4. A music hart, including a body displaying on its face in fixedrelation thereto and in a horizontal row letter names designating thewhole tones of the chromatic scale, spaces being left between certain ofsaid letter names and the face of the body being formed with openings insaid spaces, a bar slidingly mounted on the body back of said row ofletter names, letter names designating the intermediate tones of thechromatic scale, flats and sharps arranged in pairs in juxtaposition toeach other and displayed on the face of said bar in registry with saidopenings, a slide mounted on the body and provided with fingersextending over and arranged to conceal sundry of said letter names, andan operative connection between said slide and bar whereby when acertain portion of said slide is brought to a predetermined point, thebar will be shifted to a position where it will show in regular orderall of the whole and intermediate tones of a scale.

5. A music chart, including a body displaying on its face in fixedrelation thereto and in a horizontal row letter names designating thewhole tones of the chromatic scale, spaces being left between certain ofsaid letter names and the face of the body being formed with openings insaid spaces, a bar slidingly mounted on the body back of said row ofletter names, letter names designating the intermediate tones of thechromatic scale, flats and sharps arranged in pairs in juxtaposition toeach other and displayed on the face of said bar in registry with saidpenings, a slide mounted on the body and provided with fingers extendingover and arranged to conceal sundry of said letter names, and anoperative connection between said slide and bar whereby when a certainportion of said slide is brought to a predetermined point, the bar willbe shifted to a position where it will show in regular order all of thewhole and intermediate tones of a scale, the face of the boarddisplaying vertical columns at the top of which the letter names aredisplayed and at the bottom of the same of which are the key signatureswith which said certain portion of the slide is designed to be broughtinto collinear relation to display the tones of the desired scale.

6. A music chart, including a body displaying a plurality of columnarspaces at the bottom of some of which are key signatures and at the topof some of which in spaced relation to each other are displayed letternames designating the whole tones of the chromatic scale, the face ofthe board being formed in spaces intervening the spaces where the saidletter names are displayed with openings, a bar slidingly mounted on thebody back of said openings and having displayed on the face of the barletter names designating the semitones of the chromatic scale, flats orsharps, a slide mounted on the body and provided with fingers projectingover and arranged to conceal sundry of said letter names and to exposeothers, said slide being provided with a character designating a keynote designed to be brought into collinear relation with the diiferentkey signatures before mentioned, the slide being formed on its rear facewith an undulatory cam groove, a bell-crank fulcrumed on the body andpivotally connected by one of its arms to the bar, and an operativeengagement between the other arm of the bellcrank and the cam groove,the letter names carried by the bar being designed to register with thesaid openings.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH W. SCROGGS. lVitnesses NORMAN L. VVILLEY, HOWARD A. DE'rrMERs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Baton,

Washington. D. G. a

